Your pond might well be the treasure in your garden, but every pond owner knows that ponds take a lot of looking after. They can get mucky very quickly and start to look more like pea soup than clear water, and when this happens, the pond is no longer healthy for the fish and other creatures living in it. It’s not always easy to make time to clean out your pond, but there are some ways in which you can help to make sure it stays as clean as possible, even if you can only spare a little bit of time.

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Install a Permanent Cleaning Fixture

It is absolutely vital that you install biological and mechanical pond filters to keep the water in your pond clean and free of debris. Having a fountain or a waterfall in your pond will help to keep the water moving so that algae is less likely to grow in it, and dirty water is constantly filtered out and replaced with clean water.

Maintain Your Pond’s Cleanliness Yourself

You cannot rely purely on the filters to keep your pond clean, and you’ll have to do your bit too. There will constantly be leaves falling in your pond and other bits of debris getting in, and you should try to remove it as soon as possible. You also need to clean your filter system regularly because they can get dirty and clogged up quickly, and if you notice any algae in your pond, you can treat it either with liquid algaecides, or with a UV steriliser which you may find safer for your plants.

Have an Annual Spring Clean

Spring cleaning is not just for your house. Whilst your pond filters will do a lot of work to keep your pond clean, it’s important that you ensure the pond gets thoroughly cleaned on a yearly basis.

First, you should make sure you have a holding tank ready where you can put your fish whilst you clean the pond. Fill the tank with water from the pond, but make sure it is not high enough for the fish to be able to jump out. An aerator pump placed in the tank will make is easier for the fish to breathe.

Next, you need to turn off all your pumps and filters and remove them from the pond. Take all your equipment apart and make sure each piece is thoroughly cleaned, especially any filter material. You can use a hose to remove any dirt or debris.

Before you can go any further, you need to remove the fish from your pond. Drain the water so that it is just high enough for the fish to be able to swim around. This way, it’ll be much easier to catch them. You can use a bucket to do this. Put the fish in the tank you have prepared, and then drain the rest of your pond.

When the pond is empty, take out any plants that are at risk of wilting and place them in the holding tank. Remove any dead plants, then use a high-pressure hose to remove any muck and algae which covers the sides of your pond. Use plain water to do this and do not add any cleaning chemicals. You can then use a wet-vacuum to remove the muck from the bottom.

You can then refill your pond. Make sure any water you add has been de-chlorinated. Try adding a little bit of new water at a time to the holding tank, whilst pouring a little of the holding tank water into the pond. This will help your fish to adapt and get used to the new water. Find out more about pond cleaning products from Swallow Aquatics and help yourself maintain a clean pond.

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